Heating apparatus



Jan. 14, 1947. A. BARNSTEINER ETAL 2,414,163

HEATINGAPPARATUS Filed May 8, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet l wlTNEssEs; FIG' i INVENTORS RLFoNs BARNSTEINER Enwuv H.Lac; woop. B Yy?. WW

' T'TORNEY Jan. lli, 1947,.

A. BARNSTE'INER ETAL HEATING APPARATUS Filed May 8, 1943 s sheet-sheet 2 INVENTORS ALF-ONS EARNsTELNER ORNEY Jan. 14', 1947. A. BARNSTEINER ETAL 2,414,163

HEATING APPARATUS Filed May S, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 F 1G., S

A ORNEY WITNEssEs; INVENTOR 5l z. ALF-oms BARNsTEINER, W l E Dwm H.LocKwooD.

.HsL; F1G-4 BY 7. Wy@

Patented Jan. 14,* 1947 HEATING APPARATUS Alfons Barnsteiner Mansfield, Ohio,

and Edwin H. Lockwood, assgnors to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East corporation of Pennsylvania Pittsburgh, Pa., a

' Application May'S, 1943, Serial No. 486,134

1 Claim.

This invention relates to heating apparatus and particularly-to an electric cooking range and it has for an object to provide an improved device of the character described.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an electric cooking range which is readily assembled.

Another object is to provide an electric range of such construction that assembly of the switches, terminal receptacles and wiring is facilitated.

Another object is to provide an improved method of assembling the switches, terminal receptacles and wiring of an electric range.

These and other objects are effected by our invention as will be apparent from the following description and claim taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a rear perspective view of an electric range in which the Ipresent invention is incorporated;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the platform or top of the range shown in Fig. 1, with the surface units removed;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line IlI-III of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a View corresponding to the upper portion of Fig. 1, illustrating a modification of the invention; and, l

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the range platform or top shown in Fig. 4, with the surface units removed.

The range illustrated in Fig. 1 is generally of conventional construction and includes a body l i having an electrically-heated oven (not shown) accessible through a door at the front, and a combined platform and backsplasher II provided with holes or recesses I2 for the reception of electric surface cooking units I3. The I l) com-prises an outer sheet metal wrapper I4 forming the sides and front of the range and provided with inwardly-turned, vertical flanges I at the rear. The wrapper I4 is braced as by members i6 which form a base for the range and also by an upper transverse member I'I. The wrapper and platform are preferably formed of sheet metal and provided with a protective coating of enamel to provide a pleasing appearance.

The `platform turned supporting anges I9 along the sides and front edge thereof which are adapted to rest upon and be secured to a complementary flange 2l formed on the. upper edge yof the wrapper sheet range body II has horizontal, inwardlyf As shown particularly in Figs. 2 and 3, the margin of the range at each of the holes I2 is offset downwardly, as indicated at 22, to provide a shelf on which the surface unit I3 is supported. Thel surface units are of the readily removable plug-in type and preferably comprise one or more sheathed heating elements 23 coiled to provide a grid on which cooking vessels are placed for heating. A removable reflector pan 24 is mounted in the platform opening and removably supports the grid. The terminal ends 25 of the sheathed elements are disposed below the grid and extend through an opening in one side of the pan. The terminal ends are provided with suitable contacts for detachable engagement with contacts 26 of a, terminal receptacle 2'I for connecting the heating elements to a source of power when the surface unit is installed in the platform. It will be understood that the heating grid and pan are readily removable for cleaning.

The rear of the range body is closed by means of a vertical panel 28 inserted into the range body before placing the platform Il thereon and secured in any suitable manner, as by sheet metal screws 29, against the inner surfaces of the rear flanges I5 of the wrapper sheet.

It has generally been the practice in the past to install the range controls as well as the wiring therefor, after the platform and back panel have been mounted on the range body. Since ranges are usually assembled on a continuously moving conveyor, the speed at which the conveyor can travel is to a large extent determined by the time required to install the electrical apparatus. It is a main feature of the present invention that the installation of the wiring and controls can be made at stations separate from the assembly conveyor and thereby expedite assembly of the range. The controls and wiring are mounted on the under surface of the range platform and on a separate rear panel so that installation and servicing of the controls and wiring is facilitated.

As shown particularly in Fig. 3, the surface unit terminal receptacles 2l are secured to the range platform by means of brackets 3l, spot welded to the depending flanges 22 at the platform openings before the platform is enameled. By securing these brackets to these flanges instead of directly to the under surface of the platform, crazing of the enamel is prevented.

The surface units are connected to a source of power by controls, which may comprise multiposition switches 32 for selectively connecting the heating elements in circuits of different voltages to provide dinerent degrees of heat. These switches are also mounted on the platform, as by means of angle brackets 33 (Fig. 3) secured to the front flange I9 of the range platform. Each switch is provided with an adjusting shaft 34 adapted to extend through an opening 35 in the front wall of the wrapper sheet, as shown in Fig. 3, when the platform is placed on the range body. After the platform is in place on the .range body, a, knob 36 is secured to the projecting end of each shaft. These knobs may be provided with suitable indicia for indicating the degree of heat obtained for each setting of the knobs.

The terminal receptacles 21 are connected Vto the switches 32 by means of conductors 37, which may be fixed to the range vplatform by means of one or more wire-supporting and spacing blocks 33 of electrical insulating materialsecu-red, as by means of screws 39, to the range platform.

Supply conductors il connected to each of the switches extend to the rear of the range platform and are supported under the platform ll by means of wire-spacing insulating blocks 42 carried by brackets i3 spot-welded `to the platform flange t9. The supply conductors l-.l terminate in loops lit or other convenient rconnecting means so that they may be readily connected to main supply conductors when the platform is `assembled on the range body, as will .appear hereinafter. y y

Y The platform is also provided with a pilot light 45 visible through an opening in the backsplasher and having terminal straps d6 and il?. Neutral wire N `of the conductors 4l is connected tothe terminal strap 41, This pilot light is Aconnected in a circuit to indicate when the Voven .heating elements are-energized. Y While the range has been shown adapted for use with a three-wire system, .it is to be understood that this -is by way of illustration only since the invention is adapted for use with other sup A,ply systems. For convenience, the supply Yconductors 4l are indicated L1, L2 andN corresponding -tc the conventionaldesignation 4of the conductors of a three-wire supply system.

rFrom the above description, it will be clear that L".

the switches 32, terminal receptacles 2, oven .pilot light 45, and the wiring therefor maybe applied to the platform at a station or bench separate 'from the assembly conveyor. This arrangement -permits the bench to be designed for -he convenience. of the worker, thereby `increasing his or her eiilciency, and also decreases .the time required to .install the electrical apparatus on the rangeat the assemblyline. Further, since .the electrical apparatus Vis mounted on the under i surface of` the platform, as shown in. Fig. 2, `the bench worker can rapidly install the apparatus. When servicing f the range is necessary, it is a simple matter to remove the platform and expose all ofthe apparatus mounted thereon.

The `rear panel 28.is also wired before inserting it in the range. Thispanel carries Aan oven temperature control 49 as -wellas main supply conductors l and conductors `5.2 for the oven heating elements' (not shown) The rear panel is provided witha terminal block 53 to vwhich supply .leads from a three-wire system are connectable. The main ksupply con- .ductors 5 l, also identified as L1, Lz, andzN, extend upwardly from Ythis terminal blcck ythrough an insulating, wire-spacing block 543 fixed to the rear surface ofthe panel to adjacent the upper end of the panel 28 and terminate in loops for convenient connection. i

The oven -control Lidmay be any preferredtype and is here shown as of the hydraulic type having a capillary tube 56 provided with a bulb (not shown) located in heat exchange relation to the oven. The oven control is adjusted to provide desired oven temperatures by means of a rod 51, Fig. 1, extending through and journaled in the front wall of the range and provided Vwith an adjusting knob 58, shown by broken lines in Fig. 2. The surface unit controlling knobs 36 and the oven control knob 58 are preferably disposed in line across the upper front of the range.

rllhe oven control has two load terminals 59 and B, and two line terminals 5! and 62. The load terminals 5S .and 6b are connected by conductors 52 to the oven heating element. The two line terminals 5l and 52 are connected to the main supply conductors Li and L2. it will be understood `that the oven heating element conductors 52 are connected to the oven heating element after the rear panel 28 has been inserted in the range body, a suitable opening 63 providing access to thevterminals of the loyen heating element.

In assembling the range, the back `panel 28 Vis first inserted into the range body through the open top thereof with the electrical apparatus re ferred to above assembled, thereon, and is then secured to the flanges l5 by means of the .screws 29. The adjusting shaft 5'! may .conveniently be attached tc the o-ven controla'fter .the rearpanel is in place. Y

The wired range platform l l is ythen placed on top of the range body and secured inplace, as by means of screws 54. In placing the platform `on the range body, the switch shafts 34 are inserted in the openings of the range body, after which the knobs 35 are attached. It is then a simple matter to connect the Wires Lrand L2 of the platform supply conductors 4.1 to the .wires VL1 and L2 of the main supply conductors 5 l, this connection conveniently being made at the line terminals 6| and 62 of the oven control as shown in Fig. 1. The neutral wire N of the main supply conductors 5I is connected to the terminal strap 4l ofthe pilot light. The other terminal strap 46 of the pilot light is connected to the load terminal 59 of the oven control.

The range surface units I3 Ymay be installedby .merely inserting them into 'their respective platform openings and plugging their contacts into the terminal receptacles 2l, either before .or after assembling theplatform to the range body.

The range 65 illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 differs from the range lll in that surface unit switches 6B and their control knobs 'l, as well as the oven control knob 68, are carried by the .backsplasher of the platform Il. By positioning ,controls on the backsplasher, considerably less wire is required for connecting the surface unitsrto the main supply conductors, as .is apparent from an inspection of Fig. 5.

The construction of the body andplatform of the range 65 may be identical with that of the range .le and it is to he understood that platform .il and backpanel Y28 are pre-wired before Vassembling them on the `range body I4.

The switches are Vfixed in any suitable manner to the rear of the backsplasher with their adjusting shafts projecting Lthrough suitable -openings (not shown) to the front face of the y.backsplasher and provided withknobs 6.1,

As in the case of the range L5, the terminal receptacles 2l for the rangesurface units are connected by conductors 59 to the ,switches liand one or more wire spacing blocks 39 are provided for xing the conductors to the under surface of the platform.

The switches are in turn connected by platform supply conductors lil, designated as L1, L2 and N, to corresponding wires of the main supply conductors 5i. This connection is the same as in the case of the range iii except that a common terminal li, carried` by an insulating block 'i2 lixed to the rear panel 28, has been provided for connecting the neutral wires N of the conducto-rs 'lil and 5| as well as one lead 'i3 from a, pilot light The other lead from the pilot light is connected to load terminal 'lil of the oven control 19. The terminals l5, '16, ll, and 'I8 of the oven control are connected, respectively, to conductors 52 and the main supply conductors L1 and L2.

While the oven control 19 may be identical with the control A9 of the range IG, the adjusting rod 51 is replaced by a sheave 8l which is driven by a cable 82 trained over the sheave and a second sheave 83 journaled on the backsplasher and rotated by means of the control knob 68.

While we have shown our invention in several forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modincations without departing from the spirit thereof, and We desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be 6 placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claim.

What we claim is:

A range comprising a, body, a platform removably mounted on top of said body, a surface unit mounted in said platform, a switch mounted on said platform for controlling said surface unit, conductors carried by and mounted on the under side of said platform and connecting said switch to the heating unit, supply conductors connected to the line terminals of said switch and extending to a point adjacent the rear of the platform, a vertical panel mounted on the back of said body, an oven control switch mounted on said rear panel, said oven switch having line terminals and load terminals connectible respectively to a source of electricity and the heating elements of the oven of the range, and supply cenductcrs mounted on said rear panel and Connected to said line terminals of said Oven switch; whereby the supply conductors carried by said platform and said panel may be respectively mounted thereon before said platform and said panel are mounted on the range body; the supply conductors mounted on said platform being connected to the line terminals of said oven switch.

ALFONS BARNSTEINER. EDWIN H. LOCKWOOD. 

